Do I need a sick note?

Last week I had a week off work booked holiday leave, during that week I got a bad infection and the following week needed time off work. It's my first day off work in the new week and my manager is asking for a sick note. Is she asking me for a sick note because I've been on holiday leave the week before? I know that the policy is 7 days off before needing a sicknote so if the holiday leave isn't included in my time off I don't understand why I need a sick note. Can anyone help with this please?

Ask human resources or your union representative. If you are in a small company with at will employment and providing a sick note is a real inconvenience for you, talk with your manager and if that doesn't work and you think it is still worth pursuing, seek clarification from the boss of the manager.

Realistically your path with the least resistance and overall highest benefits is just getting the sick note.